2011 Sibelius Academy Music
Festival is September 18-24 in U.P., Chicago

HANCOCK, MI - The 13th annual Finlandia University Sibelius
Academy Music Festival will take place September 18 to 24, 2011, in
metropolitan Chicago and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

A contemporary Nordic folk ensemble and a classical piano/voice
duo are featured this year. The six musicians are from Finland, Estonia,
Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. All of them are pursuing master's-level degrees at
the prestigious Sibelius Music Academy of Helsinki, Finland.

"Blink" is the contemporary Nordic folk ensemble. The four
musicians are vocalists Danish-Norwegian Jullie Hjetland Jensen and Lotta
Hagfors from Finland, Estonian fiddler Johanna-Adele Jüssi, and Emilia Amper of
Sweden on nyckelharpa.

The vocal-piano duo is Annika Lumi, soprano, and Maarja
Plink, pianist, both from Finland, performing festive and solemn Nordic
classical music and spiritual music.

Concert tickets may be purchased at North Wind Books, 437
Quincy St., Hancock, on-line at http://finlandia-university.ticketleap.com, or
at the door prior to each performance.

For the most accomplished student-musicians in Finland
and around the world the Sibelius Academy is the destination for the best and
brightest. The prestigious Sibelius Academy, founded in 1882 and named for
Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, is one of the largest and best regarded music
academies in Europe. Visit the Sibelius Academy website at http://www.siba.fi/en/.

Finlandia University is a learning community dedicated
to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service. Founded in 1896 as Suomi
College, Finlandia is the only private, not-for-profit institution of higher
education in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. It is one of 24 colleges affiliated
with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Finlandia offers 2- and
4-year degrees in disciplines of liberal studies, health sciences, business,
and fine art and design. Finlandia Athletics is a member of NCAA Division III.
Visit the university's website at www.finlandia.edu.

The Estonian House will serve dinner prior to the concert at
1:00 p.m. Dinner tickets are $10.00 and can be reserved by e-mailing oforsman@yahoo.com. For more information,
call (847) 537-8016

Tuesday, September
20, 7:00 p.m.

Contemporary Nordic folk ensemble "Blink"

Finlandia University Auditorium in the Historic Middle
School

417 Quincy St., Hancock, Mich.

Tickets: $10 Adults; $5 Students

Wednesday, September
21, 1:00 p.m.

Negaunee High School Auditorium

500 W. Arch St., Negaunee, Mich.

A special concert for area students.

Open to the public. Tickets: $5

Thursday, September
22, 7:00 p.m.

Classical piano/voice duo Annika Lumi and Maarja Plink

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

1000 W. Quincy St., Hancock, Mich.

Tickets: $10 Adults; $5 Students

Friday, September 23,
9:00 a.m.

Nordic folk ensemble and Classical duo

Calumet Theatre

340 Sixth St., Calumet, Mich.

(906) 337-2610/www.calumettheatre.com

A special concert for area students.

Open to the public. Tickets $5

Saturday, September
24, 7:00 p.m.

Nordic folk ensemble and Classical duo

Calumet Theatre

340 Sixth St., Calumet, Michigan

(906) 337-2610/www.calumettheatre.com

Tickets: $10 Adults; $5 Students

Concert tickets may be purchased at North Wind Books,
Hancock, on-line at http://finlandia-university.ticketleap.com, or at the door
prior to each performance. For additional information about the 13th annual
Sibelius Academy Music Festival, please call 906-487-7512 or visit
www.finlandia.edu/sibelius-fest.